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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 22, 1991 · Sikorsky S-58J · N27AR

Chowchilla, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 22, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Chowchilla, CA
Aircraft
Sikorsky S-58J
Tail Number
N27AR
Operator
Federico Helicopters
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX91LA140

The aircraft had just completed a chemical application run of approximately 1/2 mile in length from north to south. The pilot attempted to turn the helicopter from a heading of south, through a heading of east, to the north or west. During the turn, the aircraft descended in uncontrolled flight until it collided with the terrain. The aircraft had been refueled and loaded with about 350 gallons of chemicals about 5 minutes before the accident. No mechanical deficiencies could be found. The wind at the accident site was reported from the south. During the turn from the south to the north, the aircraft passed through a heading where the wind would be off the right rear of the aircraft. At this particular heading, maximum power would be required to sustain flight. In consideration of the aircraft's weight; direction of turn; wind direction; and witness reports, the aircraft experienced settling with power. During the hover maneuver, the aircraft was at a relatively low altitude which prohibited recovery.

NTSB Probable Cause

1) THE PILOT NOT FOLLOWING THE PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE AIRCRAFT, AND 2) THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT DECISION TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS AT OR NEAR MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT, IN SUCH A DIRECTION THAT REQUIRED MORE POWER THAN WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE GIVEN FLIGHT CONDITION. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST COMPLETED A CHEMICAL APPLICATION RUN OF APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE IN LENGTH FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE HELICOPTER FROM A HEADING OF SOUTH, THROUGH A HEADING OF EAST, TO THE NORTH OR WEST. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED IN UNCONTROLLED FLIGHT UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REFUELED AND LOADED WITH ABOUT 350 GALLONS OF CHEMICALS ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES COULD BE FOUND. THE WIND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS REPORTED FROM THE SOUTH. DURING THE TURN FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH, THE AIRCRAFT PASSED THROUGH A HEADING WHERE THE WIND WOULD BE OFF THE RIGHT REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. AT THIS PARTICULAR HEADING, MAXIMUM POWER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT. IN CONSIDERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S WEIGHT; DIRECTION OF TURN; WIND DIRECTION; AND WITNESS REPORTS, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED SETTLING WITH POWER. DURING THE HOVER MANEUVER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT A RELATIVELY LOW ALTITUDE WHICH PROHIBITED RECOVERY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSikorsky S-58J
Tail NumberN27AR
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFederico Helicopters
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsWright · 989C9HE-2 · Reciprocating · 1425
Seats16

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 8 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data